Dwight Howard’s estranged wife is demanding temporary alimony, claiming she’s unable to maintain her lifestyle amid their bitter divorce battle, Us Weekly can exclusively reveal.
According to court documents obtained by Us, Amy Luciani (real name Amber Howard) argues that she and Howard, 40, agreed she “would be a stay-at-home wife for the entirety of their marriage.”
Luciani, 35, says she’s “presently unemployed” and still “completely dependent” on the NBA player, whom she calls the “breadwinner.”
She notes that Howard is employed as a professional basketball player and has “significant” income.
Dwight Howard and Amy Luciani Paras Griffin/Getty Images
“Respondent has been reliant upon the financial stability and support of the Petitioner as her primary source of financial support. Throughout the parties’ marriage, Petitioner was the sole financial provider for the family unit,” Luciani’s filing read.
Howard’s ex claims she “dedicated her life and career to the care and well-being of the family.”
She argues that without being awarded alimony, she will be “unable to both afford a place to live and maintain her day-to-day expenses.”
Luciani stresses that Howard is “fully aware” she does not have the financial resources to secure legal representation and is asking her estranged husband for $20,000 to pay for her attorney and fees in their ongoing divorce.
She says the litigation has already put a financial strain on her, and she needs the funds to “adequately prepare” for their divorce battle.
Dwight Howard is moving forward with his divorce. Court documents obtained exclusively by Us Weekly reveal Amy Luciani (real name Amber Howard) was served divorce papers on Thursday, March 12, after Howard claimed his ex is jobless and might “attempt to evade service.” Luciani was handed all the necessary paperwork related to the case by […]
“Petitioner’s financial condition is far superior to that of [the] respondent, and he has the ability to pay the same. Respondent has no other access to funds,” her docs state.
Luciani wants a hearing to address her temporary alimony and five-figure legal fee demands at the court’s earliest convenience.
At the time of this post, the judge has not ruled or set a date for the hearing.
Us reached out to Howard and Luciani’s attorneys for comment.
Howard filed for divorce on March 9, listing their marriage as “irretrievably broken” while noting there was “no hope of reconciliation.” It was the third time they filed to end their marriage after just one year. (The pair share no children.)
Dwight Howard is being sued by a man claiming to be his ex-assistant for alleged unpaid wages and emotional distress amid the former NBA star’s messy divorce with Amy Luciani, Us Weekly can exclusively report. In court documents obtained by Us, Terrence Hudson alleged he worked for Howard, 40, and Luciani (real name Amber) as […]
Weeks later, the NBA star was granted a protective order against Luciani after claiming she stalked him and “threatened to punch” him in the throat.
Howard also noted that he has a gun in his home that’s “readily accessible” to Luciani. He alleged he was worried she might try to use deadly force against him.
She denied the claims, telling Us in part that “unfortunately, Dwight is pulling any string of retaliation to cover up another one of his many wrongdoings. The protective order is completely false.”
Still, a judge ordered Luciani to stay 100 yards away from Howard and his children. The athlete has five kids with five different women.
Howard later dropped the protective order.
“Dismissing the protective order in exchange for an order in the divorce case was the first step in that process of amicable resolution, which is always the best course of action in any divorce proceeding,” his attorney, Gillian B. Fierer, told People at the time.
